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Reuse Bulb Potting Soil In Garden?

15 years ago

I've emptied containers with various bulbs and have all this container potting soil. I was going to mix it with some top soil we have left from when the backyard was regraded.

I've got bulbs in makeshift holding bed until foliage dies off and then I'll replant them in another place or better arrangement among perennials.

Do I risk transferring any bacteria, fungus or anything that could damage plants if I mix this used container mix into top soil to expand gardens?

There were a few rotted bulbs in the 8 containers which I tossed. I believe they rotted because I made the mistake of using a moisture retentive (little expandable globs) potting mix for the bulbs.

Does anyone reuse potting soil from bulb containers to replenish/expand ground gardens?

Thanks. I hate to waste that potting mix as I'm spending a fortune on mixes, compost and every other kind of "help" to amend miserably draining clay soil.

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Comments (3)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years ago
It can only help your"miserably draining clay soil". Al
MissMyGardens
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Al. Coming from you that's high praise...LOL.

I've been digging up rotting leaves from woods behind my father's house. I take all the earthworms that come along with the blackened rotting leaves that are working their magic under there and the nice black soil under the leaves for about 2 inches. I hand shred leaves to smallest size I can, mix with black soil from under leaves, some top soil left over from yard regrade and then mix in greensand, sphagnum peat moss and bagged compost. I started cheating by adding some bagged garden soil mix. Have no idea if I'm adding too much or wrong proportions but I'm trying to work in all the organic matter and draining aids I can.

Then I turn all that stuff into the top 18" of the clay soil. It's kind of making raised beds which I assume will settle over time but I won't be disappointed if they stay raised for a while until plants have time to settle in.

I try to stick to plantng things that will tolerate clay but one can only expect so much from the plants themselves. I've got to give them the best fighting chance with the soil so I'm amending my little heart away.

I made my first "black garbage bag" of stuff to compost last night. Layered dark leaves with grass and plant greens, threw in some bone meal for nitrogen and some "compost booster" from Bonide. Watered it, sealed it, poked some holes, rolled it around some and put it in the back of the yard. If it works out I'll only have a measly pile of compost but maybe one bag less I have to buy in the Fall. I'll keep making these bags all summer as grass, leaves and kitchen scraps become available. I don't have money, space or permission of my father, as I'm only a visiting gardener, to buy a composting tumbler or rig up a compost bin.

Every little bit should help even if it's inefficient compared to other composting methods.
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I reuse all my WS soil in my containers - I have a system set up where I sift all soil from last years decorative containers and WS containers into a wheelbarrel and use it along with some fresh potting soil for this years decorative containers and windowboxes. I have had no problems with disease and sometimes get that 'happy' surprise. Sifting it allows me to remove stems and roots so the end result is pretty clean. Anything that doesn't sift through goes into the compost pile - I recycle everything except weeds that have gone to seed ...... Lynne
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There's always the caution to reusing your soil, particularly for starting seeds, as the fungus that causes damping off may exist in the reused soil. To address this issue, I simply wet (soak it pretty good, actually) my soil and bake it in a 200 degree oven for about 30 minutes, let it cool, then I'm on my way. Damping off isn't usually a problem with wintersowing, but why take the risk? The other danger there is that if you don't do something to kill off what's in the soil (in addition to yucky stuff in the soil that is harmful to your new seedlings), you run the danger of the seeds that didn't sprout last year, sprouting THIS year... Gee, ask me how I know that? I now have a lovely philodendron in my office that I planted using some "waste" garden soil last year, complete with a random pepper plant that sprouted about a month after I planted the whole thing up! I even reused some peat pellets that I had tried to indoor-sow some stuff last year that had never sprouted. Didn't do the heat treatment on some of them (got too excited cuz I was already so far behind--I just wanted to get some dirt under my nails already!), and I now have some NOT tomato in one of my tomato starts. Could be pansy, petunia, or maybe even strawberry? I'm still gonna wintersow everything as a backup!
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I was told by a Master Gardener and have seen on some TV Gardening Shows that new soil should be used each year and I used to...but for the last few years I have been re-using, adding a little compost perhaps and no problems.
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I have to assume that hydrogen peroxide, or a bath in hot water, will also destroy any microbes in the soil, good or bad. In fact, the hot water will probably rinse out chemical nutrients as well. I'm not clear on this, but I don't see any advantages in soil microbes for seedlings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but soil microbes are of primary value in breaking down organic matter in the soil, which is kind of irrelevant for seedlings and seedpots. I suspect that highly sterile soil will allow seedling growth just as well as good-microbial-rich soil will. Ag extensions are pretty unanimous in recommending that seeds be started in sterile soil. As in, everything dead. Now, that being said, I understand that soil should not be overheated, or it will release toxic amounts of ammonium compounds. But that's a chemical issue, and not a microbial one.
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years ago
Such dedication to the soil will be rewarded, I hope your father appreciates your efforts. Al

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